The Labor enquirer., 1887-02-05

pended upon any public work or i'm
provement is the past labor Of the com
munitv. which bas not been needed 70
present consumption. and has beef
stored In enduring form for future re
quirements. It is q mere accident ant
belongs only to the present system, tha
this storsd.up labor should rest in pri
vate hands, and be under individua
control - 10 the direction in which I
may BY utilized. Accumulation Of labol
products will not cease with commercial
ism. That each man upon the average
working In association. and with the
improved means, OF labor. produces fal
more than he consumes is quite certain
So much more does he produce tha
even with the enormous number Of non
producers who consume without replac.
ing, there is greater and greater accu-
mutation Of storsd-up labor ready to be
diverted In any direction where 1t is
needed. Under Socialism. where each
would produce as we'll % consume, the
accumulation would be enormously
msgni6ed. but the resultant mass OF
wealth would be held socially for COM
mon objects, and no longer individually
for personal profit.
1t Is true that the capitalist is always
on the alert to supply a need of IL COM
muniy as It arises, and this because it
is his control over the supplying of
social needs that gives him his power Of
proft-making. but it is hardly likely
that the community. in the DAYS when
the interest Of all Ia the interest of
each, will be less alive to his own inter-
ests. rather more So. one would think.
after 1t bas been 50 aroused to them as
to shake itself free from the incubus Of
class .rnle and monopoly restriction,
When II is the community itself
which looks after It's own service, 1t
will be most surely be better served
than it Isl now. II our objecting friends
will take the trouble to consider that
what the capitalist cares for is not the
satisfaction OF need, but the doing it
so that he can make profit out of the
transaction, they will readily see that
the energy employed will be utilized
more effectively toward the real end
of work-the benefit of the community.
Again, when a large work has been com
pleted, the effect Is saving Of labor or
time. Whether II be an Improvement
IL the means Of production or distribu-
tion, it saves something to the commu-
nity; under the present system this
goes as increased revenue to the monop-
oily class, and in no way helps the pro-
letariat. Under Socialism. the econo.
nized labor would 70 to the conmunity's
Golfers, and be available to still further
swell the resources always accumulat-
ing from its surplus production. When
any special work was seen to be needed,
society would set aside an adequate
amount Of capital" for the purpose of
its completion. For its expenditure 1t
would have an equivalent in the fin
ished work and all the profit" from it,
nor would 1t ke compelled to pay tribute
TO any man for its use.
1t Is notorious that contract-perform-
ance does not mean any guarantee ast
efficiency for the intended purpose Of
work II means only that enough eff.
cheney for use is given it TO ensure its
pro6t-bearing capacities, and this at as
small a cost rs possible. 1t means that
the proletariat is exploited in all direc-
tions. that everywhere the screw is
given one more remorsless turn, in order
to secure to the capitalists their pound
Of flesh. Society. managing Its own
affairs, recognizing its own needs, will
satisfy them with just the requisite ex-
penditure Of labor. 1t will be to the In
terest OF every individual to try for the
greatest return for least exertion; in
order to do this,t is not the mere econ
omv Of labor In the construction of a
work that will be looked after, but also
its most effective embodiment In those
davs the pressure Of circumstances will
be against all bad or transitory work,
because the people will quickly see that
work we'll done is once done, but badly
done is Over finished, needing constant
care and much waste Of labor in mend
Ing and keeping up. y
Nor need 1t be feared that the ENTER
prising capitalist" or rather he who
would be that now. will be less enter.
prising although not capitalist. To
everyone the outcome of moderate ex-
ertion will be comfortable livelihood
everything that saves &bor or time any
where will benefit all. Each man finds
1t easier to work in the direction his
special powers impel, and the good Or
ganirer will have far more enjoyable
berth when he Is organizing labor, and
no longer only for plunder oschicanery.
Each mans energy devoted to his own
welfare in that Of society every precau
ton against waste and for utility; these
things will follow the Revolution. ant
render. life and work alike wholly
pleasant and to be desired.-H. Halli
day Sparkling in Commonwesl.
"Ths Sorrows Of OtheFs."